ASHERVILLE SCHOOL LIBRARY Will open up a new world

There were only happy faces and an appreciative group of learners when the new school library was handed over to Asherville Secondary School on Tuesday 31 August.

The new library was sponsored by the Nelson Mandela Museum in partnership with the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC).

Among the dignitaries attending the opening was council members and assistants of the Nelson Mandela Museum, members of DSRAC and the Department of Education, members of the school governing body, mayors and councillors of the Sarah Baartman District Municipality and the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality (DBNLM).

The mayor of the DBNLM, Deon de Vos, unveiled the plaque after which Fezeka Nkomonye, MEC of DSRAC, and Nomvuselelo Songelwa, chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Museum, officially opened the library by cutting the red ribbon.

The guests were welcomed by Lungisani Tyali, librarian and archivist of the Nelson Mandela Museum, who took them through the new school library.

Reflecting on this joyous occasion the school principal, Jeffrey Grootboom said, “The accumulation of information is a result of man’s pursuit of knowledge and libraries have taken on an aggressive role in the preservation of information written by wise men, with a vigour and enthusiasm in furthering the cause for academic research and education, and catering to the needs of millions for information.

“A library, therefore, is helping to generate new schools of thought, making innovative discoveries and generally adding to world information and knowledge. The library’s undisputed link as an aid to the continuing learning process has the utmost potential to develop into the best learner-centred facility that can shape the educational destiny of learners.

“By receiving this library, we as a school community will expose our learners more in a digital environment where teaching and learning can take place. With textbooks, audio lessons in digital formats, and with tablets and computers at our disposal, we can improve and diversify learning to a large degree and throw open the door for our educators to reinvent visual learning.

“To sustain lifelong learning and as a permanent resolute pillar in promoting the education process, we as a school community need to jealously protect and utilize this asset of information and intellectual communique. You can be assured that structures and mechanisms are in place to achieve this objective.”

Vodacom SA sponsored the library with five laptops, a rooter and 20 gigabytes of data.